Man arrested in credit card scheme

Updated 7:57 pm, Monday, July 22, 2013

Cobleskill

Police say a town man was part of an international credit card scheme that took over accounts, bought items online, resold them on eBay and Craigslist and then sent the profits to Nigeria.

Walter Martin, 65, was arrested Friday on a slew of misdemeanor charges stemming from the scheme, police said. Martin would receive the fraudulently purchased items and then either ship them to other people around the country or sell the goods himself online, police said.

The group Martin was working with is the focus of an ongoing investigation with the U.S. Secret Service, investigators from Citibank and the Schoharie County District Attorney's Office. Police said the group has people working for them around the world and can rip off credit card holders and credit card companies for more than $20,000 per day in illegal purchases.

Police said that inside Martin's home they found victims' credit cards, stolen and illegally purchased goods and fraudulently issued credit cards in Martin's name.

Martin was charged with multiple counts of identity theft, unlawful possession of personal identification and criminal possession of stolen property. He was issued an appearance ticket and released.

Police did not say whether they believe anyone else in Schoharie County or nearby areas is thought to be part of the scheme.